Letter form Paintings, Chinese or Japanese?

Took a punt on these 5 pictures for £1 each at the jumble. Hopefully the symbols don’t mean anything offensive. I’m assuming from the phone number digits and frames these were framed around the 1980s. I just can’t find the most obvious symbol which looks like an 808 or any of the others. The only Riken reference I can find is from Japan and it’s an old prominent research facility, recently in the news for a scientist fabricating stem cell results. Not all been done by the same artist by the red seals. Any comments or info please? 11x10inches. Thanks
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They are Japanese.
The man with the big eyes is Daruma Daishi (Bodhidharma), the Buddhist teacher who founded Chan Buddhism in China, which became Zen in Japan.
He is portrayed with large, bulging eyes because he is said to have cut off his eyelids so he wouldn't fall asleep during his quest for enlightenment.

 

Thank you AJ, i have seen this figure before but didn’t know his significance. I do find it very interesting when things found send me on a journey, I suppose most of us here on the Board do too. I’ve been looking at calligraphy today for sometime now and it’s time for a rest!. At least now I can narrow it down to Japanese and begin by looking at Zen symbols. You gave me some info fairly recently about a pair of ink Chinese scenes, they came from a charity shop for a £1 each too and were framed by the same shop here in Norwich.

 

Good starting point, I wouldn't be surprised if they are all Zen-related. You could even ask in a Zen centre. There is probably one in Norwich or vicinity.

 

AJ, a Japanese friend of a friend has given some info about the first two. It seems Riken is probably the calligrapher. The first symbol or Kanji letter form which looks like 808 to me says RA KU which means easy or enjoyable. The second Riken piece says MI CHI or Dou meaning Road or Way. The Japanese lady refers to colour, strength and performance which are important in the art form.
Looking on websites It seems a state of ‘no mind’ is required to make the best Shodo art forms. All very interesting, thanks for pointing me in the right MI CHI!
I’ll probably keep these for a while, after looking at so many black and white images, colour began to seem like too much if that makes sense?

 

Thank you so much for the update, so interesting. As you may have gathered, I like it when art and spirituality find each other. After all, art is in-spiration.

You are reaching the Zen state of mind, I think, less is more.
They are very nice, and I can see they could have been made in a state of ‘no mind’.